Sore, puffy, dry, red eyelids... Help needed, as my pharmascist is the definition of useless!

[onix600]

Apologiies in advance for this crazily long post- perhaps if I had forced my pharmacist to read all of this, he might have actually been helpful.....


For the last few weeks I have been suffering from incredibly sensitive eyes/eyelids which are red, dry and sore, similar to sunburn. I initially thought it was because of some cheap make-up remover wipes that I used to take off my mascara. Although I had been using them for a while, they soon started to sting and burn the area around my eyes whenever I used them. The use of any eye make-up other than mascara would result in a stinging sensation, which varied in terms of severity. Moisturiser and even baby-lotion would burn my skin. Since then however, I have been using some Garnier make-up wipes, made for sensitive skin and the problem seemed to get a bit better, although eyeshadow was still strictly off-limits. But then, last Sunday, my eyes had gone back to their previous state, of being very red and sore. I hadn't worn any make-up or used any products on or near my eyes at all on Sunday, so I'm confused as to what caused it to return.

On Monday and Tuesday, several people commented on the state of my eyes, especially the right one, which seemed to be in a worse condition. My eyelids were dry and painful to touch, especially in the corner and it was continuously weeping, until yesterday afternoon when it seemed to heal up to the point where it looked sore, but no longer felt it.

And then today- my awful eyes are worse than ever. While my actual eyes are fine, my eyelids are large,  puffy and as per usual- RED. My left one was expectionally bad, where it was almost hard to keep open. Since the day has gone on, they've somewhat improved, although they remain puffy and red.

One more thing- it may or may not be related but yesterday morning I woke up with a dry, red, sore patch of skin around the left corner of my mouth. When covered up with makeup, it's not so bad, but still notciable and sometimes itchy. I put on some E45 cream today, as I thought this would help, but I think it made it worse as it started stinging and burning almost immediatley. I never had this before, only since the problem has returned to my eyelids. Related, perhaps?

What is going on with my evil, crazy eyes?! I look awful, as I'm very pale and the contrast between my pale face with the random red patch near my mouth and my dry, puffy eyelids makes me resemble something out of a horror film... :( Any ideas of what the problem could be or how to fix it? Or has anyone else suffered similar symptoms? All help would be greatly appreciated. :)

Alex.

[sycad]

Another Update

After my last post, i recieved my Mario Badescu Control Cream like a day or two later. It's a small pot, only 14ml, which i bought from Beauty Bay for £13.95 plus P&P. It doesn't say anywhere on the tub not to use around eye area, and i've just looked on the official website and again i can't find anything about it not being used around the eye area.
But, as promised, i posted that i'd use it for a month before i give my verdict. Since using it from day one, i have been able to wear my normal eye makeup (shadow(s), eye liner, mascaras etc) and use any make up remover (i'm currently using Simple Eye Makeup Remover) without any flare ups, swellings or irritated dry skin! When i started using it, i had a particular red dry patch on my right eye lid which looked like an eczema patch, and within a couple of days it was gone.
I totally recommend Mario Badescu's Control Cream. Yes it's a small pot, but since you're only using it on your eye lids, you only need a very small amount to apply to the lids, and then in which case it will last a long time even with daily use!
It's small, it's expensive, but it's worth it! And it's not like we haven't spent enough on treatments that didn't work.
Hope this helps :^)

[crttop]

I did not notice the peeling/flaking until my eyes had been sore for a few weeks and even this would come and go.  My lids were never very swollen, more red and very tender and irritated.  I also wondered about "dry eye symdrome" but i tried natural tears and it did not help.  Also, with dry eye problems, your eyes are often better in the morning and get progressively worse throughout the day, whereas mine were often worse in the morning.  Also, my eyes did not feel sandy or hurt when I blinked as I have heard described by others.  I also never had crustiness or any obvious discharge.   I am Canadian but got my friend to get me the MB creme in the US as Canada has restrictions which forces them to change the formula.  It can't hurt to try it.
Hope this helps!  Good luck.

[crttop]

I am posting this because I think I have found the cure for my problems and am hoping that this might also help some of you!  I am a 49 year old woman with no history of allergies and no previous skin, eye or health problems.  Starting last August I began to experience all of the exact sympoms as many of you, including red sore eye lids, flaking of my upper lids, itchyness along the lash line,  weepy eyes and a sore dry spot on the outside corner lid.  My eyes were often sore when waking and sometimes got worse during the day.  The symptoms would tend to fluctuate but never went away totally. The only relief I found (after getting drops and creams from my doctor which provided almost no relief) was to take allergy medication.  After reading all of the comments here, I felt that a fungal infection might be the cause.  I started using oil of oregano and also got a jar of Mario Badescu Control creme, but the biggest change I made was to throw out my memory foam pillow!!  Even though it seemed fine (i.e., no smell etc,) I couldn't help but wonder why my eyes were often worse in the morning.  By the third day may eyes were totally better and have been fine for almost 2 weeks.  Because I did all three things at once, I am not sure which one was the real cure but I suspect I had a fingal infection originating from the pillow and that oil of oragano killed it and the creme soothed my lids.  All I know is that for the first time in 8 months I am symptom free!!  Hope this helps some of you. Good Luck!!

[colleague]

My eyelids are sore and painful but not flaky or swollen-I cannot put any eye make up on. My eyes also are very dry. Would this Mario cream help me? Do you think it is the same problem for me?

[smithieie]

can someone advise exactly which product is The Mario Badescu Control Cream, is it this one - it is more expensive than you all say, and it specifically says not for use on the eyes! I can't find any other one with Control in the title though!

http://www.beautybay.com/skincare/mariobadescu/controlmoisturizerforoilyskin/

thanks

[sycad]

Update
I stopped putting petroleum jelly on my eye lid on saturday because i had stuff to do and didn't want to leave the house with big greasy eye areas. And low and behold, my eyelids (left to be precise) has dried up, leaving very little and no redness, but very flakey dead skin left from the swelling. I'm still a bit sore in the corner of my eye (ear side), and stings when my eye waters, but it seems to have calmed down. I'm starting a new job in two weeks and really want to start wearing make up again :-S